Jharkhand’s most famous ganglord whose violent ways inspired the epic Bollywood movie Gangs of Wasseypur, is running his crime empire from behind the high walls of jail through high-end 3G-enabled mobile phones, police have revealed.

Jharkhand’s most famous ganglord whose violent ways inspired the epic Bollywood movie Gangs of Wasseypur, is running his crime empire from behind the high walls of jail through high-end 3G-enabled mobile phones, police have revealed.

Ranchi superintendent of police Anup Birthray said that they stumbled upon the disturbing fact after interrogating four sharp-shooters who were arrested from a posh locality of the capital recently.

Coal mafia Fahim Khan, 50 – whose area of operation is Wasseypur – is serving life term at the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar.

The reel character depicting Khan and played by Nawazuddin Siddique was a central figure in the Anurag Kashyap’s two-part film released in 2012.

Wasseypur, located in the coal city of Dhanbad, is around 165 km from the state capital.

Coal mafia Fahim Khan who is serving life term at the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar.

“The four (arrested gunmen) told us that they were here to carry out a criminal act on the directive of Khan,” Birthray said, refusing to give details.

HT has learnt that the shooters were in the city to kill the leader of a rival gang Shabir Ahmad, also based in Wasseypur.

The two gang leaders had turned rivals after Shabir was accused of killing Khan’s brother and mother.

According to a senior police officer, the call detail records (CDR) of the mobile phones recovered from the arrested shooters revealed that the four were in regular touch with Khan over phone.

“The four told us that Khan was directing them and providing specific information about Shabir’s movements. The mobile number was also traced to be functioning in the Hotwar area,” said the officer on condition of anonymity.

The officer is part of the interrogating team not authorised to talk to the media.

According to a 22-year-old youth, who had served four months in jail in connection with a murder case and is out on bail told HT that criminals use 3G mobile phones to stay connected with the outside world from the jail.

“Mobile phones are sneaked into the jail premises in food packets… many a time phones are provided by jail staff,” the youth claimed.

The Ranchi SP, however, said that inmates “manage to get hold of mobile phones when brought out of jail for court hearings”.

According to a senior jail administrative official, 2G jammers have been installed in most jails of Jharkhand including four central jails.

However, the technology is unable to stop calls made on a 3G mobile network, the official added.